Santana Moss sued over lease payment

Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss has been sued by a Miami businessman who accuses him and others of defaulting on a lease for a dry cleaning business that was operated by members of the football player’s family.

According to court documents filed June 4 in Miami-Dade County, Stadium Corners Shopping Center LLC contends that 3 Kings Dry Cleaners Inc. owes $24,151.78 in back rent, plus accelerated rent and court and attorney’s fees. In all, Stadium Corners is seeking $308,870.64.

Craig Bernstein, owner of Stadium Corners shopping center in Miami Gardens, said that 3 Kings Dry Cleaners, which lists Moss as its president in a filing with Florida’s secretary of state, vacated the property in the past few months but had agreed to pay the rent owed until that date. But payment never was received and Bernstein said the dry cleaners is now six months behind.

The filing lists Lloyd Moss as vice president and Natalie Moss as secretary of 3 Kings Dry Cleaners.

Bernstein said he tried to work with the Moss family, and at one point believed he had a tenant who would take over the remainder of a seven-year lease, leaving 3 Kings liable only for the delinquent amount. But that deal fell through, and the shop that housed 3 Kings remains the only vacant storefront in the shopping center, Bernstein said..

“I’d love to work out a deal with them,” Bernstein said. “I’m from D.C., I’m a Redskins fan. But I really need to get paid the back rent. The agreement was to pay rent until release and they haven’t been released. I still have to pay my mortgage.”

Bernstein said a representative of Moss’s told him that the receiver would not be able to settle with him until NFL players reach new collective bargaining agreement with the league.

Moss could not be reached for comment, and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, did not return a voice mail and e-mail left for him.

Moss’s contract with the Redskins is up and he is due to become a free agent whenever the NFL lockout is lifted. Last season, he earned a base salary of $ 968,500. In 2009, he renegotiated his contract with Washington and, as part of that arrangement, received a signing bonus of nearly $6.3 million.


(washingtonpost.com)